Increased Pest Activity During Summer

Summer: Peak Activity Time for Pests

Every summer, the bugs seem to come out in full force.

bees ruining your backyard barbecues, ants invading your kitchen and fruit flies feasting on your ripe peaches.

It’s frustrating, isn’t it? Many of us have wondered why pests become so active during summer.

It feels like a never-ending battle between them and us.

Our team at Pro Pest Control is here with some information and resources to help you win.

1. Increase in Temperature and Humidity

Do you bask around in the sun when the weather turns warm? Pests and stinging insects love to do that too. In fact, they thrive in warmer temperatures. Summer heat brings an increase in heat and humidity which gives those pesky bugs an open invitation to breed and invade our homes more actively. Warm areas with high humidity make ideal breeding grounds for most common household pests like fruit flies, and cockroaches.

2. Access to Food and Water

Just as humans tend to consume more fluids on hot days due to sweating more, pests too need extra sustenance during summers. It makes perfect sense then that while we have barbecues in backyards or leave food sources out during picnics, creatures like rats and ants see these events as buffet open days. The increased availability of food crumbs and water droplets becomes an open feast invitation for them.

3. More Reproduction

Not only pests are active during summer, but they also reproduce a lot more. For instance, the average life-cycle of a mosquito is approximately fourteen days in hot weather. This means new generations are being born rapidly. An ant queen can lay hundreds of eggs a day during warm weather. This high rate of reproduction is one reason why pest activity seems to spike in the summer months. Regular treatments from professional pest controllers can help disrupt this breeding cycle and get their population under control.

4. Longer Daylight Hours

As days become longer than nights during the summertime, pests adjust their habits too. They now have more hours to search for food and reproduce. Almost like they’re on double shifts. For example, cockroaches are typically nocturnal creatures but increased heat may make them more active even during the day. Investing in good window and door screens could prevent these intruders from taking advantage of longer days at your home’s expense.

5. Increased Outdoor Activities

When we head outside to enjoy that sunny sky, we unintentionally invite pests to join us or leave traces behind that attract them. If you love gardening, summer is probably your happy season. Digging into the soil, planting new seeds, basking in the fulfilling sight of blossoming flowers and thriving greeneries. Unfortunately, pest infestations are also big fans of such an environment. Rich in nutrients and hosted by warm body heat that makes it perfect for their multiplication.

6. Increased Moisture

Ever noticed how high humidity seems like a magnet for bugs? There is actually some science behind this. Many pests such as cockroaches, ants, ticks and fruit flies thrive in humid conditions because they require moisture to survive. Summer storms followed by increased heat provide ideal breeding conditions which result in an increase of these pests during this period. However, hope is certainly not lost. One way is to control pests triggered by increased moisture levels simply by reducing standing water around your home.

7. Hitchhiking

Sometimes, you might feel like a walking buffet for these little critters. And you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. The thing is, bugs love human bodies. Our sweat and exhaled carbon dioxide are like an ice-cream van on a scorching day to them. Moreover, they also find it easier to move around in the warmer weather. Making it a prime time for them to hitchhike rides on people and pets into our homes. Regularly check your clothing and pets before they get inside your house .

8. Pest Biology and Behavior

Another reason behind this seasonal surge is the biology of pests themselves. Many insects have life cycles that are heavily influenced by temperature changes. When it’s cold outside, they go into survival mode and their activity slows down significantly. However, when temperatures rise and conditions improve, you’ll see them spring back to full speed eating, breeding, and annoying.

9. Increased Daylight

As surprising as it might sound, many pests thrive under the sun’s radiant glow. Longer daylight hours mean more time for them to feed, mate, and multiply. For example, bees are buzzing around your BBQ party because they’ve got extra time and energy from that added sunlight. With proper pest management strategies like sealing off entry points in your home or using natural repellants, you can enjoy BBQ parties without unwelcomed guests.

10. Summer Showers

Those spontaneous summer showers are perfect for cooling off after a hot day but also great for breeding pests. Insects like bees and wasps lay their eggs in standing water which is often left in abundance after rain showers. Moreover, high humidity levels during summer make it ideal for pests like cockroaches and termites who love damp places. Beating these critters at their own game requires some effort but it’s certainly doable. Remember to get rid of any standing water right after rainfall.

Common Types of Pests Active During Summer

1. House Flies

House flies love to take up residence in our homes during summer, breeding in garbage cans or any unsanitary places they can find. Apart from being annoyingly buzzy, they can be potential carriers of diseases too. For persistent problems, making sure your home is clean and free from potential breeding sites will discourage those pesky visitors from dropping by.

2. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the irksome bug responsible for those reddish, itchy bumps on your skin. Warm weather hatches their eggs faster causing an explosion in their population during summer months. They don’t just spoil our summer fun but carry harmful diseases too. Destroy their breeding grounds mainly stagnant water puddles within and around your property.

3. Cockroaches

Summer is pretty much paradise for cockroaches. Nothing can ruin a summer faster than having these invaders scurrying around. The solution is to clear leftovers quickly, empty trash daily, and don’t let those dirty dishes sit overnight. Most importantly? Seal off areas where they can sneak into your lovely home with caulk or expandable spray foam.

4. Fruit Flies

These lil’ critters love themselves a sweet, ripe juicy fruit almost as much as we do. Turn away for even a second when slicing apples or chilling near your picnic basket loaded with goodies. Implementing some straightforward tricks can return peace to your life again. Cover all food items tightly, fix leaky pipes because they also fancy breeding in damp places, regularly take out trash and finally avail commercial traps easily accessible at stores nearby.

5. Bees and Wasps

Whenever you sip onto lemonade in your backyard or plan a picnic with your folks during those sunny afternoons, bees and wasps always seem to show up uninvited. Their fear factor isn’t just about their stings which can pack quite a punch but also some people may have serious allergic reactions. No one wants their peaceful summer turning into an emergency visit to the hospital. Keep foods covered when eating outside and ensure trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Also, check regularly for nests under eaves, ledges or in trees nearby.

Prevention and Control Strategies for Summer Pests

1. Keep it Clean

Clear away food crumbs quickly, especially in outdoor areas where you eat or prepare food. Pests love leftovers!

2. Nix Standing Water

insects are are drawn to stagnant water as it acts as a breeding ground for them. Always tip over buckets, clear out gutters, and don’t let water stand around.

3. Seal those Cracks

This is where insects often enter homes from outdoors. Through cracks and gaps around windows, doors and foundations.

4. Use Natural Repellents

Essential oils such as citronella and lemongrass can deter insects and pests while edible plants such as basil are known to repel flies.

5. Consider Professional Pest Control Services

If your problem persists after applying all these methods or if your infestation gets out of hand, consider seeking help from pest control professionals who use the latest techniques to safely remove pests without causing harm to humans or pets.

Conclusion

We hope that these simple but effective solutions will help you better enjoy your barbecues, gardening, and other summer activities without the constant frustration of pests.

Keep in mind that patience is key.

These strategies may not eliminate the problem instantly, but with consistent application, you’ll see significant change.

In severe cases, don’t hesitate to bring in a professional to ensure that every nook and cranny of your home is safe.

Summer should be about fun under the sun, family gatherings and peaceful outdoor relaxation, not a fierce battle against intrusive insects.